California Governor Gavin Newsom has once again shown the extremes he is willing to go in pursuit of political theater, this time crossing a line that many Americans—left, right, and center—would consider unthinkable. In a social media post this week, Newsom’s official “GovPressOffice” account referred to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller by the Nazi acronym “SS.”
The reference was unmistakable. “SS” was the abbreviation for the Schutzstaffel, the notorious Nazi corps directly responsible for orchestrating the Holocaust and murdering millions of Jews. Miller is Jewish. To equate a Jewish public servant with the very organization that carried out genocide against his people is not only historically perverse but also unmistakably antisemitic.
A press inquiry to Newsom’s office received no response, a silence that speaks volumes. Referring to a Jew as a Nazi is widely recognized as a form of Holocaust denial, because it attempts to blur the line between the victims and the perpetrators of one of history’s greatest crimes. The intent is to smear, distort, and ultimately cheapen the memory of those who suffered under Nazi brutality. It is the kind of rhetorical weapon that should have no place in public discourse, much less coming from the official account of a sitting governor.
This was not an isolated lapse in judgment. Newsom has built a reputation on inflammatory attacks, often directed at Republicans and at former President Donald Trump in particular. Even in the shadow of national tragedies—such as the assassination of Charlie Kirk or the recent shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility—he continues to lean into the kind of rhetoric that encourages division rather than healing.
Why? Because it works for him politically. By keeping his name in the headlines, Newsom maintains a steady grip on the attention of the national press. His antics have made him the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, a race that increasingly looks less about ideas or leadership and more about who can attack Trump and his supporters most viciously. Never mind that Trump himself will not even be on the ballot by then—what matters is signaling hostility toward conservatives loudly enough to rally the base.
From a broader perspective, this moment highlights something deeply troubling in our politics. When leaders normalize using Nazi slurs against their opponents, they erode the seriousness of history, exploit trauma for cheap applause, and further poison the public square. It’s not just unbecoming—it’s dangerous. Antisemitic rhetoric has real consequences, and equating Jews with Nazis has long been a tactic of extremists. For it to come from a governor with presidential ambitions shows how far some are willing to push the boundaries of decency for political gain.
Newsom may believe that his verbal warfare secures him attention and positions him for the future. But what it truly reveals is a disregard for historical truth, for basic respect, and for the civic responsibility that comes with leadership. At a time when America faces pressing challenges—from border security to economic stability—the last thing the country needs is politicians using Holocaust imagery as a punchline in their partisan battles.
